Lasting repercussions

September 15, 2005

To the editor:

The Katrina disaster will have repercussions and ramifications which will be more far reaching for our nation than Sept. 11, and for a longer period of time, in ways yet to be made clear to us. For now, we must endure all the myopic examination the major media is indulging in, and the politicos are responding to.

Isn't it obvious that there is blame enough to go around to all levels of government, and to leaders of Gulf area community organizations and businesses? How short-sighted they all were. Crossing fingers. Penny-wise and pound-foolish.

Whatever happened to local self-reliance? It has all too often been abandoned in favor of soliciting the federal government for aid, not only in the Gulf area but throughout our nation. And doing precious little if the feds say no. After all, isn't that where most of our tax dollars go? We can't afford to be self-reliant, right? Wrong!

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Shall we wait until the San Andrea's Fault consumes San Francisco again before we learn the overarching lesson of Katrina?

What is needed is a shift in power to tax and spend, from the federal level to regional authorities and states. This would enable "We The People" to exercise closer oversight, demand better government service for less money, and so enjoy more cost-effective spending.

With less control over spending at the federal level, there would be less money available to be wasted in pork barreling and pay offs for campaign donations.

So don't wait for the Congress to effect a downward shift in power to tax and spend. It will take a populist up rising by "We The People."